Test-bench.



I E. A. HALBLEIB.

TEST BENCH.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 9. 1915.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

mono

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. HALBLEIB, OF ROCHESTER, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NORTH EAST,

ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW

YORK.

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW TEST-BENCH.

Specification offLetters Patent. Patented Nov. 21, 191(iu Application filed June 19, 1915. Serial No. 35,076.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, EDWARD A. HALBLEIB, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain .new. and useful Improvements in Test- Benches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in testing dynamo-electric machines designed for use as both motors and generators, and is particularly useful in connection with small machines, of the kind in question, such as areused in electric engine-starting apparatus for. automobiles.

In testing electric machines of the kind in question itis desirable to test them both as generators and as motors, and particularly to ascertain the current and electro motive force which they generate when they run at a definite speed, and the power and torque which they exert when energized by current of a definite electromotive force.

One object of the present invention is. to produce testing-apparatus by means of which dynamo-electric machines may be tested with respect to the characteristics above mentioned, and to such others as may be desirable, '30

in a convenient and simple manner and with a minimum amount of handling of the machines. 7

Another obgect of the invention i to provide for the testing of a conside'ra le num ber of machines without the necessity of providing a large amount of expensive apparatus for the purpose.

To the foregoing ends the invention resides in a test-bench having simple,anr -convenient means for supporting a lyhamoeld ct'rie machine in cotiperative relation with a copntershaft, this countcrshaft being provided with means for coupling it to the armature-shaft of a dynamo-electric machine,

. the countershaft,

and also with a brake-member or drum convenient for the application of a Prony brake, and in connection with the parts just described I provide means for connecting when necessary, with a source of power, and means for connecting the terminals of the electric machine with a source of current and an ammeter or other electrical measuring instrument.

{Other objects of the invention, and the features of construction by which they are attained, will be set forth hereinafter, in

connection with the following description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :F igure 1 1s a front-elevation of a portion of a testbench constructed and equipped in accordance with the present invention, the figure showing two dynamo-electric machines in position for the performance of different tests; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on'the line 22 in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 in Fig. 1. I

The invention is illustrated as embodied in apparatus comprising an elongated table or bench-top 5, in front of which the opera tor may stand. Upon this table are placed,

at suitable intervals, metal frames 6' of which ranged to embrace the cylindrical casing of the motor, these straps being connected and tightened, at the top of the motor, by a toggle-device 9 of vvel -known form.

The left-hand end of the frame 6 is pro vided with two bearings 10 in which a countel-shaft 11 is journaled. This countershaft is provided, at its'right-hand end, with a coupling 12 of the Oldham type, one member of the coupling carrying a set of pins 13. These pins are adapted to engage the teeth of a sprocket-wheel 14, with \vhich'the armature-shaft of the motor is provided, so that when the motor is placed in the seat it is necessary only to bring the sprocketwheel into engagement with the pins in order to couple the armature-sha ft to the coun- I tel-shaft, the countcrshaft being arranged to alme approxzmately with the armatureshaft, of a. motor of the size for which the apparatus is designed, when this motor is "damped upon the seat. Any slight inaccuracy in alinement is accommodated by the Oidham coupling 12.

In testing the motor as a generator it is necessary to drive it from a suitable source shaft is connected with any suitable source of power, so as to be driven at a definite rate of speed.

- The belt 16 is normally so loose that it does not'cause the pulley to be rotated, but each belt cooperates with an idler-pulley 1!) which is carried by a bell-crank hand lever 20 pivoted beneath the table. \Vhen the hand-lever is swung downwardly the belt is tightened, as shown in Fig. 2,-and the lever is; retained in either operative or inoperative position by a latch 21 cooperating with a toothed sector 22.

In testing the motor as a generator the terminals may be connected, in the usual manner, with a storage-battery or other device for absorbing the current generated, and in Fig. 2 the motor is shown as so connected by flexible conductors 2 5, which extend to a switch on a switch-board ll at the an electrical measuring-mstrument, such as an ammeter, and where a large number of motors are to be tested the expense of providing an ammeter at each seat'on the testbench would be considerable. To avoid the necessity of such expense I employ an arrangement by which a singleannneter, or alimited number of such instruments. may

be moved convementlyirom place to place along the bench as required. For this purpose a support in the form of a horizontal rail 26 extends along the back of the table, and the instrument 27 is provided with a book 28 by which it is suspended on the rail. The instrument may thus he slid along the rail to the point where its use is necessary, and may then be connected, by flexible conductors 29, with the corresponding switchboard, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In testing the electric machine as a motor it is desirable to apply a Prony-brake or similar device, and in the present apparatus convenient provision for this purpose is made by providing the countershaft 11 with a brake-drum 30 at its left-hand end. This drum is adapted to receive an adjustable brake-band 31, which is shown in Fig. 3, provided with an arm 32 which is connected with a spring-balance To avoid the necessity of providing. a separate brake and spring-balance for *aeh seat on the testbench, the brake-band is divided, as shown, so as to be removable from the brake-drum, and the spring-balance is suspended on. an upright 3t which may be inserted in and removed from a socket in the tablet), as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

Itwill be apparent that all the tests ,to which it is necessary to subject the dynamoelectric machine or motor may be conveniently performed while it is mountedon the seat and coupled to the ('ountershaft, and no manipulation of the machine is required in the course of the testing. and thus the time and labor required are greatlyvreduced, while the apparatus is of suchslmple'and.

convenient form that provision may be made. at a small expense, for testing a considerable number of machines simultaneously.

My invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,- but may be embodied in various other forms within the nature of the invention as' it is defined in the following claims.

I claim a 1. In a test-bench. the combination or a seat and means for fixing a motor thereon; a eountershaft journaled in positionto aline with the arimiture-shaft of a motor on the seat. and provided with a brake-member and 'with means for coupling the countershaft to the armature-shaft; and means for connecting the eountershaft with a source of power.

In a test-bench, the combination of a frame provided with shaft-bearings and a motor-seat; mians for clamping a motor on said seat; a counter-shaft journaled in said bearings; a brake-drum on one end of the eountershat't; a eoupling member for connecting the other end of thecountershaft' with the arimiture-shaft of a motor on said seat; and means for connecting the countershaft with a source of power.

EDWARD AI HALBLEIB. 

